Movable letter, word forming toy apparatus



Patented Aug. 14, 1951 i MOVABLE LETTER, WORD FOBMING TOY APPARATUSCameron M. Radford, Biltmore, N. C.

Application September 13, 1950, Serial No. 184,660

(Cl. 35-v-35) Claims. l

This invention relates to a novel construction of toy to provideeducation and amusement to children and has for its primary object toprovide a toy by the use of which a child may readily learn the alphabetand also learn to spell, read and form the letters of the alphabet.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide aWord forming toy including stencil type movable letters by means ofwhich words may be formed and thereafter Written utilizing the lettersas a guide.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a toy of extremelysimple construction having means for locking the letters inpredetermined positions while being utilized to form words and aswriting stencils.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan viewof the game apparatus;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof taken substantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along aplane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of one end of the toyapparatus taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the removable card holder;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the movable letterunits, and

Figure '7 is an enlarged sectional view thereof taken substantiallyalong a plane as indicated by the line 'I-l of Figure 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the word forming apparatusin its entirety is designated generally B and includes an elongatedrelatively Wide letter supporting plate or member 9 which is adapted tobe supported in an elevated position by means of depending supportinglegs I0 which are secured to the ends thereof. The plate 9, which isrelatively thick as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, is provided with alongitudinally extending slot II which extends from near one end thereofto a point spaced from its opposite end and which connects with theinner ends of a plurality of transverse slots I2 which extend laterallytherefrom to adjacent the side edges ofthe plate 9. The plate 9 isprovided with at least twenty-six lateral slots I2, one for each let-vter of the alphabet and may be provided with a greater number of saidslots in order to provide for duplication of certain of the most commonletters used in the spelling of words. Only six of the slots I2 havebeen illustrated in the drawing wherein the plate 9 is shown brokenaway. The upper surface of the plate 9 at the outer end of eachtransverse slot I2 is provided with a recess or depression I3. The uppersurface of the plate 9, between each side edge thereof and the adjacentdepression I3 is inscribed with a letter of the alphabet, as indicatedat I4, to provide a guide for indicating the correct letter to bepositioned in the adjacent depression I3, as will hereinafter becomeapparent.

The end of the plate 9, remote to the slots I2 and depressions I3, isprovided with an elongated depression I5 in its upper surface, whichextends longitudinally thereof and which is centrally disposed withrespect to the slot II. The plate 9 is provided with a longitudinal slotI6 formed in the depression I5, near one longitudinal edge thereof andwhich is offset with respect to the longitudinal slot II. An obliqueslot I'I, which likewise extends through the depression I5, connects theadjacent ends of the slots II and I6. The longitudinal edge of the slotI6, located nearest the adjacent edge of the depression l5, is providedwith longitudinal spaced depressions I8, in the embodiment of theinvention as illustrated, three of said notches I8 being shown. Theunder surface of the plate 9, adjacent and partially underlying thedepression I5, is thickened as seen at I9 and is recessed to provide arelatively long and wide socket 20 which opens outwardly of the end ofthe plate 9, disposed adjacent the depression I5. The depression I5 isprovided with an elongated longitudinally extending opening 2l which islaterally spaced from its slot I6 and which opens into the socket 20 andthe upper surface of the plate 9, adjacent the depression I5, isprovided with an elongated opening 22 which likewise opens into saidsocket 20.

An elongated card holder 23 is provided with a recessed card receivingupper surface 24 and has an outer end 25 which is internally recessed toprovide a socket 26 which opens into the adjacent end of the cardreceiving recess 24. An elongated card 2l is removably disposed in therecess 24 and has one end engaging in the socket 2S, said card 21 havingindicia suitably applied, preferably to each side thereof, one side ofwhich preferably comprising the picture 28 of a simple object,` hereillustrated as a top and the other side preferably likewise including apicture of a top and also the letters spelling the Word top, not shown.It will be readily understood that any number of cards 21 containingdifferent indicia such as pictures of different objects and letters ofthe word designating such objects may be provided and which areselectively applied to a block type letter 39, corresponding to theletter v I4, designating said depression I3, is cut through the blocksimilar to a stencil. The letters 39 are located adjacent the upperedges of the blocks 29 when said blocks are disposed in their normalpositions on the plate 9 or in the depressions I3 or I5. A stem 3|extends downwardly from each block 29 adjacent its opposite, bottom edgeand is spaced from the portion of the block containing the letter 39. Asmaller retaining iiange 32 is secured to the lower end of the stem 3|and is spaced from the block 29. The stem 3| of each block 29 has arestricted shankl 33 which extends upwardly through and is suitablyanchored in the block 29 and which is provided at the word TOP. The cardholder 23 is then replaced and as the side edge of the socket 20,located adjacent the slot I6, is open, as seen in Figure 3, and as thecontiguous side edge of the card holder 23 extends rpartially into theslot I6, said side edge will be disposed against the stems 3| to preventsaid stems from being laterally displaced out of the notches I8 tothereby effectively anchor the three letter blocks 29 in the depressionI5 and to hold said letter blocks against sliding movement while thestencil letters thereof are utilized as a guide by the child who insertsthe point of a pencil therethrough for forming the letters on theportion of the card 21 which is disposed beneath the opening 2 I. Toassist the child in this forming of the letters, the upper surfaces ofthe letter blocks 29 are preferably provided with upstanding ridgesforming borders around the slots constituting the stencil letters, asbest seen in Figure '7.

It will be readily apparent that the size of the plate or board 9 may bevaried, as previously pointed out, to Iprovide more than one letterblock for certain letters of the alphabet and the size of the depressionI5, card holder 23 and socket 20 may also be varied for using theapparatus for forming Words having more than three letters.

its upper end with a head or enlargement forming f a knob 313, as bestseen in Figure 2, which is disposed above and spaced from the block 29.It will be understood that one of the block units 29, 3|, 32 is providedfor each depression I3 and slot I2 and the stems 3| thereof are adaptedto slidably engage the slots II, I2, I6 and I1 while the blocks 29 areintended to slide over the upper surface of the plate 9 or to rest intheir respective depressions I3 or in the depression I5. The flanges 32are disposed beneath the plate 9 and spaced suihciently therefrom toallow the blocks 29 to be lifted out of the depressions I3 or I5 and tounderlie a portion of the enlargement I9 when the blocks are disposed inthe depression I5 Without binding engagement therewith. l

The plate 9, legs I9, card holder 23 and the parts 29, 3| and 32 may beformed of any suitable material preferably plastic.

Assuming that the card holder 23 containing a card 21 is disposed in thesocket 29 and that all of the letters are located in their correctdepressions I3, after the child has had an opportunity to view thepicture 23 the card holder may be removed from the socket 20 and thechild then selects-the correct letters to spell the word represented'bythe picture 28. In this case the child would first select the letter Tand by grasping the knob 313 associated with the block 29 containingthis letter would lift the block out of the depression I3 and by movingit over the upper surface of the plate 9 would cause the stem 3| of saidblock to slide first through its associated branch slot I2 into the slotII thence into the slot I1 and finally along the slot I6 until theletter block was disposed at the left hand end'of the depression I5 andresting therein. The depression I5 is sized so that the block 29 must belaterally displaced in order to rest therein and in.

so moving its stem 3| isv positioned in the notch. y

For beginners, the side of the card 21 spelling the word represented bythe picture 28 is preferably disposed uppermost initially to guide thechild in selecting the correct letter blocks 29 and thereafter the otherside of the card containing only the picture 28 may be employed or saidlast mentioned side only of the card is employed for older children.

Various modifications and changes are con-I templated and may obviouslybe resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim is my invention:

l. A toy apparatus for use in teaching reading, spelling and theformation of letters, cornprising an elongated plate having alongitudinally extending slot and a plurality of transversely extendingslots, said longitudinal slot having a laterally offset end disposedadjacent one end of the plate, said plate having an elongated depressionin its upper surface in which the laterally offset end of saidlongitudinal slot is disposed and positioned adjacent one longitudinaledge of said depression, said transverse slots having outer closed ends,the upper surface of the plate having letter block receiving depressioninto which the closed ends of said transverse slots extend, a blockcontaining a letter normally disposed in each of said letter blockdepressions, a stem depending from each letter block adjacent one edgethereof, a retaining flange secured to the lower end of each stem anddisposed beneath and substantially parallel to the letter block thereofand normally disposed beneath and spaced from the under surface of saidplate, said letter blocks and flanges each being of a length and widthgreater than the Width of the slots, said stems being sized to looselyengage the slots, each letter block being provided with a letter of thealphabet located between the stem and the edge of the block disposedremote to said stem, said stems being slid- :able in the transverse andlongitudinal slots for positioning the letter blocks in saidlongitudinal elongated depression to form words, and' means removablymounted in said plate in a visible po#- .Sition containing indiciarepresenting or correspending with the word vformed by' the letters ofthe blocks disposed in the elongated depression, 'said means inclu'clingan elongated card holder having an upper surface providediwith a cardreceiving recess, an indica bearing card removably disposed in the cordholder recess, a socket formed in said plate and openingoutwardly of theend thereof located adjacent said elongated depression and in which thevcard holder is removably disposed, and said plate having an openingtherein for exposing the indica on the card contained in the card holderwhen the holder is disposed 'in said socket, o v

2.v A toy apparatus VVfor use in teaching reading, spelling and theformation of letters, comprising an elongated plate having alongitudinally extending slot and a plurality of transversely extendingslots, said 'longitudinal slot having a laterally oifset end disposedadjacent one end of the plate, said plate having an elongated depressionin its upper surface in which the laterally offset end of saidlongitudinal slot is disposed and positioned adjacent one longitudinaledge of said depression, said transverse slots having outer closed ends,the upper surface of the plate having letter block receiving depressionsinto which the closed ends of said transverse slots extend, a blockcontaining a letter normally disposed in each of said letter blockdepressions, a stem depending from each letter block adjacent one edgethereof, a retaining flange secured to the lower end of each stem anddisposed beneath and substantially parallel to the letter block thereofand normally disposed beneath and spaced from the under surface of saidplate, said latter blocks and flanges each being of a length and Widthgreater than the width of the slots, said stems being sized to looselyengage the slots, each letter block being provided with a letter of thealphabet located between the stem and the edge of the block disposedremote to said stem, said stems being slidable in the transverse andlongitudinal slots for positioning the letter blocks in saidlongitudinal elongated depression to form Words, and means removablymounted in said plate in a visible position containing indiciarepresenting or corresponding with the word formed by the letters of theblocks disposed in. the elongated depression, said means including anelongated card holder having an upper surface provided with a cardreceiving recess, an indicia bearing card removably disposed in the cardholder recess, a socket formed in said plate and opening outwardly ofthe end thereof located adjacent said elongated depression and in whichthe card holder is removably disposed, and said plate having an openingtherein for exposing the indicia on the card contained in the cardholder when the holder is disposed in said socket, said letter blockshaving slots cut therein forming stencil type letters, said elongateddepression having an opening therein spaced from the offset portion ofthe longitudinal slot beneath which another, blank portion of the cardis disposed and over which the stencil letters of the blocks, containedin said elongated depression are positioned whereby the letters may beinscribed on the blank portion of the card with a A writing implementutilizing the stencil letters as a guide.

3. A toy apparatus for use in teaching reading, spelling and theformation of letters, comprising an elongated plate having alongitudinally extending slot and a plurality of transversely extendingslots, said longitudinal slot 6 having alaterally offset end disposedadjacent one end of the plate, said plate having an elongated depressionin its upperr surface in 'which the laterally elset end of saidlongitudinal slot is disposed and positioned adjacent one longitudinaledge of said depression, said transverse slots having outer closed ends,the upper surface of the plate having letter block receiving depres sioninto which the closed ends of said transverse slots extend, a blockcontaining a letter normally disposed in each of said letter blockdepressions, a stem depending from each` letter block adjacent one edgethereof, a retaining flange secured to the lower end of each stem anddisposed be neath and .substantially parallel to the letter blockthereof and normally disposedbeneath and spaced from the under surfaceof said plate, said letter blocks and flanges each being of a length andwidth greater than the Width 'of the slots,-

said stems being sized to loosely engage the slots, each letter blockbeing provided with a letter of the alphabet located between the stemand the edge of the block disposed remote to said stem, said stem beingslidable in the transverse and longitudinal slots for positioning theletter blocks in said longitudinal elongated depression to form Words,and means removably mounted in said plate in a visible positioncontaining; indicia representing or corresponding with the Word formedby the letters of the blocks disposed in the elongated depression, saidmeans including an elongated card holder having an upper surfaceprovided with a card receiving recess, an indicia bearing card removablydisposed in the card holder recess, a socket formed in said plate andopening outwardly of the end thereof located adjacent said elongateddepression and in which the card holder is removably disposed, and saidplate having an opening therein for exposing the indicia on the cardcontained in the card holder when the holder is disposed in said socket,said letter blocks having slots cut therein forming stencil typeletters, said elongated depression having an opening therein spaced fromthe offset portion on the longitudinal slot beneath which another, blankportion of the card is disposed and over which the stencil letters ofthe blocks, contained in said elongated depression are positionedwhereby the letters may be inscribed on the blank portion of the cardwith a writing implement utilizing the stencil letters as a guide, saidelongated depression having notches opening into the side edge of theoffset portion of the longitudinal slot located remote to said lastmentioned opening to receive portions of the stems of the letter blocksdisposed in said elongated depression, said card holder having a sideedge disposed to be engaged by said stems and retaining the stems insaid notches to hold the letter blocks immobile in the elongateddepression while the card holder is in an applied position.

4. A toy or game apparatus comprising a plate provided with a pluralityof connecting slots including a main slot and a plurality of branchslots each having an end opening into the main slot, a plurality ofletter blocks disposed above said plate, a stem depending from eachletter block adjacent one edge thereof slidably engaging one of saidslots, a retaining flange secured to the lower end of each stem anddisposed beneath the plate and combining with the letter block connectedto said stem for retaining the stem in engagement with the slot, each'of said blocks having a stencil letter disposed between the portionconnected to the stem and the edge of the letter block disposed remoteto the stem, said plate having a card receiving socket openinoutwardlyof one end thereof and opening through the upper surface of theplateadjacent one end of said main slot, and an indicia bearing cardremovably disposed in said socket having a blank portion thereofdisposed beneath the stencil letters of the blocks which are located insaid end of the main slot whereby said stencil letters may be used as aguide for a writing implement for forming corresponding letters on theblank portion of the indicia bearing card.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, said plate having a. recessed uppersurface into vwhich said end of the main slot extends and in which theblocks disposed over the indicia bearing card are seated, and latchmeans associated with the indicia bearing card for engaging the stems ofthe REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,781,258 Walker Nov. 11, 19402,444,768 Eby July 6, 1948 2,454,632 Cohn Nov. 23, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 123,858 Great Britain Mar. 13, 1919

